2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 NLT

Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.

1 Timothy 4:1 ESV

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Acts 2:17a & 21 NLT

‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people… But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’

Isaiah 33:6 NLT

In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD will be your treasure.

What is the fear of the Lord? — It is NOT to be scared of God!

James 4:8 NLT

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Exodus 20:20 ESV

Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”

1st) fear (yârê) = frightened, scared

2nd) fear (iyr’â) = morally, reverence, terror, respect

• • Scared of God— have something to hide (Ex: Adam & Eve)
  • Fear God — has nothing to hide

What is the fear of the Lord? — It is to be terrified of being away from God!

Proverbs 16:6 NKJV

In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.

• People don’t first stop loving the Lord, they first stop fearing the Lord.

What is the fear of the Lord? — To stand in Awe of Him

Awe of Him = To honor, tremble, revere, esteem, respect, value, and venerate Him more than anything or anyone else.

Hebrews 12:28 NKJV

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

• We firmly embrace what pleases God’s heart.
• We love what God loves & hates what God hates.
• Could it be that you are tolerating sin in your life and in the lives of others?

Hebrews 1:9 NKJV

You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

The Fear of the Lord is to…

#1) TREMBLE AT HIS PRESENCE

Psalm 89:7 NKJV

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.

• You will never find God in an atmosphere where He is not held with the utmost respect.

Leviticus 10:3b NKJV

…’By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.'”…

Matthew 6:9 NKJV

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

• When you encounter the Holiness of God, your life cannot be the same!

Isaiah 11:2-3 NKJV

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;

• When you encounter the Holy Fear of God, it cleans you and it helps you endure.

Psalm 19:9a NKJV

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;

• God’s Presence has to be the most important thing in our lives.

The Fear of the Lord is to…

#2) TREMBLE AT HIS WORD

Isaiah 66:1-2 ESV

Thus says the LORD:

“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

What does it mean to tremble at His Word?

TREMBLE AT HIS WORD MEANS TO OBEY HIM…

1. IMMEDIATELY
2. EVEN IF IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE
3. EVEN IF IT HURTS
4. EVEN IF WE DON’T SEE A BENEFIT
5. ALL THE WAY TO COMPLETION

Matthew 4:17 ESV

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

• God is telling us, repentance is the key to access more of Him.

PROMISED REWARDS OF THE FEAR OF GOD

#1) FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

Psalm 25:14 ESV

The friendship (secrets) of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

John 15:14 NKJV

You are my friends if you do what ever I command you.

Genesis 22:12 NKJV

And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

• Some of us need to be confronted and tested by God to see if we truly have His Holy Fear.

What is the difference between Abraham & Lot?

• Both are called righteous men.
  • Abraham (Genesis 3:6; 15:6; Romans 4:3)
  • Lot (2 Peter 2:7-8)
• What does it mean to be righteous in this context?
  • Righteous = Saved = Born-again = someone who loves God
• Here’s the ANSWER…
  • Both loved righteousness; but only Abraham hated lawlessness.

2 Peter 2:8 NKJV

(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—

Philippians 2:12-13 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

John 15:15 ESV

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

#2) JOY OF THE LORD

Psalm 112:1 NLT

How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands.

#3) BLESSED POSTERITY

Psalm 112:2 NLT

Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.

#4) ELIMINATES ALL OTHER FEARS

Psalm 112:7-8 NLT

They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

• When you fear God you don’t fear anything else.

#5) WISDOM

Proverbs 9:10a ESV

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,…

Proverbs 4:7a NKJV

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom…

• Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do.

Proverbs 15:33 NKJV

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,…

CONCLUSION

• God loves humanity. God hates sin. God loves righteousness because He is Holy.
• God hates lawlessness because it is Satanic.
• When you love what he loves & hates what He hates, it keeps you from sinning.

Proverbs 14:27 NIV

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

fountain = continual flowing source

Snares= traps

• Death has traps and traps are hidden.
• We need the fear of the Lord to know where the traps Satan has hidden around our lives.

Genesis 20:3-6 NLT

But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!”

But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”

In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her.

• THE FEAR OF GOD KEEPS YOU FROM SINNING.

Jeremiah 32:40 NKJV

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.

• How can a man who have served God for decades sleep with someone else’s wife?… No fear of God.
• How can someone quit ministry? No fear of God.

Philippians 2:12-13 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

• Christians are falling into so many traps… Traps of hurt, confusion, fear, rejection, division, lust, disobedience.
• We have too many Christians that love God but don’t hate lawlessness because they don’t have the fear of God.

Ecclesiastes 9:12 NLT

People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.

• Because we can’t predict, we need the spirit of the fear of God in our lives.
• If we take His Presence serious… If we take His Word serious… If we take His Love for people & His hate for sin serious…Then we would walk in obedience, encounter His manifest presence, and be changed forever… and we would be called His true friend. And He relates to His friend way different than His servants.